Alyth Show settled comfortably back into its traditional pre-Highland Show slot on Saturday with a day of sunshine, some serious competition and huge sighs of relief from the show organising committee.
The torrential rain which fell during the setting up of the event stopped in the nick of time to open to floats, trailers, stock and spectators in Bogles Field on the outskirts of Blairgowrie.
Show president, Ruth King from Polcalk Farm, Alyth said the committee had worked through a washout day of preparation, in trepidation that the rain wouldn’t stop.
“We were so relieved with the turnaround in the weather, and after two years of coming after the Highland Show, it feels really good to be reinstated in our old position and back in synch with the showing season. It has meant an increase in cattle entries as breeders like to take their animals here in preparation and training for the big event at Ingliston.
“By the time the Highland is over, everyone is tired.”
Prospective Highland Show contenders were certainly plentiful on the field with exhibitor after exhibitor announcing that their cows, bulls, tups, ewes and horses were destined for Ingliston.
Merieston Daisy Duke, a Welsh Section C pony from Shonah Wood, Crossroads of Guthrie, Forfar carried off the champion of champions title when she reigned supreme over all the cattle and sheep winners on the field. Daisy Duke, by Hardy’s Lincoln and out of Erwwastad Danielle, is bound for the Highland and Shonah left Blairgowrie with a clutch of silver trophies and shields as well as £170 to spend at Ingliston.
Alyth’s interbreed cattle champion, a Charolais heifer from Adrian Ivory of Strathisla Farms is also destined for the Highland after winning a reserve junior championship there last year. The April 2014-born Cardean Jealous by Elgin Flagship and out of Cardean Gucci is part of Strathisla’s 40-cow Charolais herd.
In reserve supreme position was the Limousin from Willie McLaren, Muirhouses Farm, Kirriemuir. McLarens Lord, by Norman Gamin and out of McLarens Helen, will be competing later this week too.
In the sheep lines the Suffolk gimmer from Gordon Mackie, Drimmie, Forfar took the interbreed award supreme championship on only her first show outing. And in reserve supreme place was another debut show goer, the North Country Blackface, a gimmer from Cadogan Estates, Auchnacloich, Glen Quaich, Amulree. This winner is by a £4000 Newmill tup and her dam is by a £3000 Calla sire.
The champions
Cattle
Beef Shorthorn – M D McMillan, Moneydie Roger Farm, Luncarty with 14-month-old bull, Coldrochie Jeronimo by Knockenjig Foremost and out of Irania Rainbow
Reserve – James Cameron and Valerie Orr, 1 Sandford Farm Cottages, Kirriemuir with four-year-old cow, Ballyvaddy Princess by Byron of Ballyvaddy and out of Ballyvaddy Princess A420. Champion at Fife Show.
Highland – Sally Nairn, Balnabroich Farm, Strathardle with two-year-old heifer, Sidonia 2nd of Balnabroich by Cliadhomh Mor of Balmoral and out of Sidonia of Ormsary.
Reserve – Sally Nairn with Sidonia 3rd of Balnabroich by Cliandomh Mor of Balmoral and out of Sidonia of Ormsary, a full sister of the champion.
Any other native breed – John Steel, West Drums Farm, Brechin with Aberdeen Angus cow, Cardona Proud Isla G475 by Eastfield Fusilier and out of Cardona Proud Isla D265. Champion at Angus Show.
Reserve – John Steel with 17-month-old Aberdeen Angus heifer, West Drums Emma by Mosstown Muir Mr Angus and out of Mosstown Muir Edith.
Charolais – Strathisla Farms, Meigle with two-year-old heifer, Cardean Jealous by Elgin Flagship and out of Cardean Gucci. Reserve junior champion at RHS 2015.
Reserve – Robert Young, Todpark Farm, Alyth with 15-month-old bull, Mornity Lucas by Maerdy Hwre [CORRECT] and out of a home-bred cow by Blelack Challenger.
Cross cattle – Dereck Nelson, Mains of Lundie, Edzell with Parahandy, 17-month-old Limousin cross bullock bred by Tom Hamilton, Pardovan. Reserve champion at Angus Show.
Reserve – Wilson Peters, Cuilt Farmhouse, Monzie, Crieff with yearling heifer, Touche Noir. Champion at Fife, West Fife and Angus Shows.
Simmental – Strathisla Farm, Meigle with 22-month-old heifer, Strathisla Fudge’s Harriet by Agardsley Clinton and out of Bambi’s Harriet.
Reserve – Strathisla Farms with 14-month-old bull, Strathisla Granite by Dellfield Brigadier and out of Strathisla Brambles Twiggy.
Any other breed – W McLaren, Muirhouses Farm, Kirriemuir with 15-month-old Limousin bull, McLarens Lord by Norman Gamin and out of McLarens Helen.
Reserve – William Lawson, Windsole, Auchterarder with 16-month-old Limousin heifer, Windsole Lara by Elite Forever Brill and out of Windsole Flora.
Sheep
North Country Blackface – Cadogan Estates, Auchnacloich, Glen Quaich, Amulree with a gimmer by a £4000 Newmill tup and out of a ewe by a £3000 Calla tup.
Reserve – Cadogan Estates with a two-shear tup bought in Stirling in 2015 from Phil Steward, Bomakelloch.
Blueface Leicester – Andrew and James Adam, Newhouse of Glamis, Forfar with a three-crop home-bred ewe by a Middledukesfield tup.
Reserve – Alan McIntyre, Devol, Main Street, Glenfarg with a home-bred ewe by a Burnbank sirse. Champion at West Fife.
Texel – Alistair and Tom Greenhill, Westhall Farm, Kellas, Dundee with a shearling tup by Proctors Ventura and out of a Hilltop-bred ewe. Second prizewinner at Angus Show.
Reserve – Alistair and Tom Greenhill with a four-crop ewe by Ettrick Rainbow Warrior. Champion at Alyth in 2015.
Suffolk – Gordon Mackie, Drimmie, Forfar with a gimmer by Solwaybank Poundstretecher and out of a dam by Boreland Buddha.
Reserve – Thomas Sands, outhfield, Abernyte, Perth with a ewe lamb by Donrho Duracell and out of a home-bred ewe.
South Country Blackface – Tay and Torridon Estate, North Amulree Farm, Dunkeld with a two-crop ewe by an £11,000 Midlock sire and out of a ewe by a £2800 Dalchirla sire. Champion at Braco, Perth and Alyth in 2015.
Reserve – Willie Walker, Cramie, Glen Prosen with a gimmer by a £10,000 Aitkenhead sire and out of a ewe by a £2600 Nunnery tup. Champion at Angus Show.
Cross sheep – Robert Morris, Over Buttergask, Coupar Angus with three gimmers by a Beltex cross Charollais tup and out of Texel ewes.
Reserve – David Black, Minard, Cortachy Road, Northmuir with three Texel cross gimmers out of Beltex cross ewes. Bred at Pitnacree and bought as ewe lambs at Forfar.
Border Leicester – Robert Brown, Rose Cottage, Radernie, Cupar with a shearling tup by a Westforth tup. Third at Fife Show.
Reserve – Robert Brown with a gimmer by Eildon Coca Cola and out of a home-bred ewe.
Jacob – Linda McKendrick, Bankhead Farm, Peat Inn with a home-bred gimmer by Blackbrook Darcy and out of a home-bred ewe.
Reserve – Barbara Webster, No 2 Cottage, Higham Farm, Newburgh with a shearling tup, Carrochy Potein by Carrochy Nairn and out of a home-bred ewe. Third at Fife Show.
Charollais – Thomas Sands, Southfield, Abernyte, Perth with a one-crop ewe by a Cannahars tup and out of a home-bred ewe.
Reserve – Thomas Sands with a shearling tup, Rainbow Panther.
Any other breed – Robert Morris, Over Buttergask, Coupar Angus with a two-shear Kerry Hill tup bought at Ludlow as a shearling.
Reserve – Robert Morris with a three crop Kerry Hill ewe bought as a ewe hogg in Carlisle in 2012. Reserve champion at Alyth in 2015.
Horses
Clydesdale – Scott Greenhill, Leuchars Lodge, Leuchars with six-year-old brood mare, MacFin Ruby by Doura High Spirit and out of Kirkhouse Amazing Grace.
Reserve – A Greenhill, Upper Tulloes, Forfar with three year old mare, Lady Jane by Colessie Stepping Stone.
Shetland – William and Pauline Robertson, 32 Newhome Road, Montrose with nine-year-old yeld mare, Hedderwick Red Ribbon by Emperor of St Ninians and out of Clashandorran Review. Champion at Angus Show.
Reserve – J and G Wilson, Leys Farm, Muckhart, by Dollar with 11-year-old mare, Warrackston Guylianar by Titus of Hutton and out of Gatebeck Chrystal Gleam, with her five-week-old colt foal at foot.
Highland – JPG Cameron, Westcot, Pitkennedy by Forfar with yeld mare, Rosanna of Turin Hill by Kircardine Ben Macdhui and out o f Rosalind of Turin Hill. Champion at Angus Show.
